First outing with new Shield Plus Performance Center version

[wbwanzer]

I picked up my new Shield Plus Performance Center the other day and got to the range yesterday. First off I'll say that I really like this little pistol. I was hoping that it would be an improvement for me over my recently purchased Hellcat. It was. The Hellcat worked fine but it wasn't for me. The recoil spring was very stiff and the serrations on the slide are not cut to full depth for the length of the serration. So it sort of gave me a half purchase when I needed a full purchase with the strong spring. Now I know that there will be some folks that love their Hellcats, and that's fine. It just wasn't working for me. Recoil was kind of snappy too. But I had zero issues as far as function of the Hellcat.

So yesterday I took the Hellcat and the new Shield Plus and 100 rounds of 9mm FMJ to the range with me. I ran five rounds through the Hellcat and it reminded me of how snappy it is for me and how poorly I shoot with it. Then five rounds through the M&P. What a difference. The Shield is way more pleasant for me to shoot and I was way more accurate with it. I mainly got the PC version because of the fiber optics, but it also has a ported barrel. I guess that may have contributed some to it's flatter shooting for me than the Hellcat. I ran the remaining 90 rounds through the Shield. My accuracy was about on par with some of my larger pistols, which surprised me. It ran flawlessly through it's 95 rounds until the very last round when the slide did not hold open. I didn't have any more ammo so further testing could not be done.

I'm really liking the Shield and it will probably become my new carry gun. Lately I have been carrying my Springfield XDE which I still like but was hoping to find something a little smaller and lighter for when the warmer weather rolls around and I'm wearing shorts and tee shirts. I think that the Shield Plus can fill that roll.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I picked up my new Shield Plus Performance Center the other day and got to the range yesterday. First off I'll say that I really like this little pistol. I was hoping that it would be an improvement for me over my recently purchased Hellcat. It was. The Hellcat worked fine but it wasn't for me. The recoil spring was very stiff and the serrations on the slide are not cut to full depth for the length of the serration. So it sort of gave me a half purchase when I needed a full purchase with the strong spring. Now I know that there will be some folks that love their Hellcats, and that's fine. It just wasn't working for me. Recoil was kind of snappy too. But I had zero issues as far as function of the Hellcat.

So yesterday I took the Hellcat and the new Shield Plus and 100 rounds of 9mm FMJ to the range with me. I ran five rounds through the Hellcat and it reminded me of how snappy it is for me and how poorly I shoot with it. Then five rounds through the M&P. What a difference. The Shield is way more pleasant for me to shoot and I was way more accurate with it. I mainly got the PC version because of the fiber optics, but it also has a ported barrel. I guess that may have contributed some to it's flatter shooting for me than the Hellcat. I ran the remaining 90 rounds through the Shield. My accuracy was about on par with some of my larger pistols, which surprised me. It ran flawlessly through it's 95 rounds until the very last round when the slide did not hold open. I didn't have any more ammo so further testing could not be done.

I'm really liking the Shield and it will probably become my new carry gun. Lately I have been carrying my Springfield XDE which I still like but was hoping to find something a little smaller and lighter for when the warmer weather rolls around and I'm wearing shorts and tee shirts. I think that the Shield Plus can fill that roll.

I know the feeling. I had a Sig P365 that I felt the same way about. Kicked it to the curb and now carry a Shield Plus and Micro 9 Kimber depending on how I dress. My Shield is a tack driver.

 

[Spats McGee]

I’ve been a fan of the Shield since about 2017. My current EDC is a non-PC Shield Plus. I’ve got a couple of hundred rounds through it, but so far, so good. I think I had one or two failures to lock back, but I have another 150 rounds in my range bag ready to go. (Darned range was closed day before yesterday. )

 

[DTL]

I, too, like the PC Shield Plus. I bought it replacing my 2.0, same 3.1" but ported and yes, it does make a noticeable difference in felt recoil and second shot placement. That feature and the fiber optic sights meant more to me than the minimal capacity increase.

 

[equin]

I’ve been a fan of the Shield since about 2017. My current EDC is a non-PC Shield Plus. I’ve got a couple of hundred rounds through it, but so far, so good. I think I had one or two failures to lock back, but I have another 150 rounds in my range bag ready to go. (Darned range was closed day before yesterday. )

I have the standard Shield Plus and really like it. However, I noticed that if my left thumb rides or touches the slide lock then it won’t lock back. But if I move my left thumb down a bit, it’ll lock back fine.

 

[wbwanzer]

I forgot to state in post #1 that it is the 3.1 inch barrel version of the Shield Plus PC that I bought.

 

[Spats McGee]

I have the standard Shield Plus and really like it. However, I noticed that if my left thumb rides or touches the slide lock then it won’t lock back. But if I move my left thumb down a bit, it’ll lock back fine.

I went to the range today and put another 250 rounds through her. This post was on my mind, so I was very careful to ensure that my thumb didn't ride or touch the slide or the slide lock. Still had a handful of failures to lock back, as follows:
50 rds 15 grain TulAmmo BrassMaxx -- 0 failures to lock back
100 rds 124 grain Winchester '9mm NATO' -- 2 or 3 failures
100 rds 124 grain Fiocchi -- 2 or 3 failures.

Not sure what's going on here. Maybe this gun prefers 115 grain? Maybe it's still getting broken in? I'm at a total of about 400-500 rounds.

 

[wbwanzer]

I went to the range today and put another 250 rounds through her. This post was on my mind, so I was very careful to ensure that my thumb didn't ride or touch the slide or the slide lock. Still had a handful of failures to lock back, as follows:
50 rds 15 grain TulAmmo BrassMaxx -- 0 failures to lock back
100 rds 124 grain Winchester '9mm NATO' -- 2 or 3 failures
100 rds 124 grain Fiocchi -- 2 or 3 failures.

Not sure what's going on here. Maybe this gun prefers 115 grain? Maybe it's still getting broken in? I'm at a total of about 400-500 rounds.

Interesting. I put about 35 rounds through mine yesterday and had one failure to hold open. I was shooting 115 gr. FMJ. I stopped at my LGS where I bought it to talk to then about it. The owner of the store offered to take it home and shoot it to see what he could see. I don't thing I was limp wristing it and I don't thing I was riding the slide release with my thumb. If it happens to me some more maybe I will let the LSG guy take it home and try it.

 

[WheelGunMan]

This must be the week to exercise the Shields. We've had some unseasonally nice weather so was able to get out and shoot the snot out of mine. Only run 50 rounds thru it this time... it ran flawless. It has never malfunctioned once in several hundred rounds. For a finale I emptied a 10 round mag rapid fire from 7 yards..was able to keep all shots within a 5" group. She's a keeper!

 

[Spats McGee]

Here's a head-up on 13 round mags at $25 apiece: https://www.smkw.com/sw-m-p-9-shield-plus-9mm-mag-13rd